Spring has sprung! If you have a yard you no doubt are eager to hop on your lawnmower or get behind your push mower (or schedule your first haircut with your landscaper) to trim the grass for the first time in 2011. Maintaining grass is an extremely wasteful, unhealthy and is oftentimes an unnecessary practice. Over the centuries western society has put an emphasis on the aesthetic benefits of a grassy wide open space as part of the ideal homestead. Don’t get me wrong, yards do offer many benefits when utilized properly. The issue is maintaining fields just for the purpose of keeping the grass short and free of weeds.
When left alone open spaces in this region and climate revert to their natural setting. In the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys this means taller, lighter colored species of grass, short shrubs and wildflowers. Eventually, without any attention for an extended period of time saplings will take root and the space will become a young forest. This may not be desirous for many reasons. You may value the view the open space allows or you may lead an active lifestyle that includes using the yard to exercise and/or play. If you have large dogs or other pets they need an open space to keep them in shape and healthy. All too often though folks maintain their open space without thinking about the consequences or alternatives. The consequences are many. Unless you use a manual, fuel less mower (the greenest alternative if you must trim your grass) you can spend hundreds of dollars a year on fuel alone. You also need to maintain the equipment, keeping it in decent shape. Eventually comes the time when you need to replace it, which can run into the thousands depending on your needs. The other main consequence of trimming your lawn are the fumes and harmful particulates the engines release into the atmosphere. Even if you have an electric mower that power most likely originates from a coal-fired power plant. If you do cut your grass regularly consider leaving the clippings where they fall. This is a great, cheap natural fertilizer. Empty the trimmings if your mower collects them onto a compost pile (assuming you have one). Never dispose of grass clippings in the trash. Another benefit of leaving your yard alone is the increase in wildlife you will notice. Birds and other critters are attracted to areas with minimal disturbance. Other animals you don’t normally see may move into their new surroundings because they’re attracted to plants (or other animals) that weren’t previously there such as wildflowers and other non-obtrusive weeds. Install a few bird feeders and soon you’ll have a flourishing ecosystem right in your back yard!
There is one drawback to letting your yard revert to its natural state. As stated earlier, left unchecked for a few years you may find yourself with an adolescent forest on your hands, which will take more time, effort and resources to keep at an acceptable level. To avoid letting this happen it is recommended to cut the vegetation once (twice at the most- in the spring and fall) a year. Adjust the height of the blade so it leaves the plants a few inches high. If you implement this change in some or all of the landscaping in your yard it does not hurt to keep the mower you already have so when it does come time for the annual trimming you have the equipment on hand. If you let some of your open space run wild you may want to get rid of your equipment. If you do this hand it down to a young couple who just moved into a home or donate it to your local thrift store. Then when the time comes to cut the space each year you can simply borrow your neighbors mower or rent one for the day. The best method of keeping a space from turning into a forest is to control-burn the area. Doing this recycles nutrients and minerals back into the earth. This must be done with a lot of planning and the weather conditions must be right (any amount of wind can whip the controlled burn into a frenzy). You may also want to notify your local authorities that you’re doing this. Some jurisdictions may prohibit this practice.
In summary, it is best to let your lawn or yard revert to it’s natural state, while cutting the grass every six to 12 months. If you maintain your area more regularly consider switching your equipment to a manual push mower or investing in an electric powered one. Do not collect and dispose of the grass clippings in the trash if you do indeed mow your lawn.
Happy trimming!
Tax day is fast approaching and if you’re like me you still need to file yours. There are a few green practices you can implement while going through the process of getting your green back from the government. If you have a simple, straightforward return you should consider filing your own taxes on line. Even if your return is complicated there are programs that will guide you through the filing stages step by step. Most on line services are free, so you’re already saving some green. Of course the other benefit is you do not need to drive to an accountants office, saving gas and preventing emissions. The other main green practice to utilize while filing your taxes is to have the treasury department deposit your return directly into your bank accountant, saving time and paper (the obvious green benefit). Saving time is also an important green philosophy, and one that is frequently overlooked or not even considered. Another term for saving time is efficiency. Anytime you can be more efficient, your actions usually result in increased productivity. Increased productivity means more money- either made or saved. The more money saved or earned the sooner those monies go back into the economy, keeping that cycle humming along. A healthy, thriving economy is absolutely a goal of green advocates. Spending money wisely results in more disposable “play money”. Play money goes towards products and activities that keep our spirits high and our communities vibrant. Without getting too philosophical, the happier a society, the more productive it is. A productive community is a healthy, green community. 
